Real Madrid

Real Madrid were outplayed by Paris Saint-Germain back in September when they lost 3-0 at the Parc des Princes in their opening Group A clash in the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League.

Los Blancos will be looking to avenge that defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday as they bid to guarantee their spot in the knockout rounds and maintain their slim chances of topping the pool.

Both sides go into the fixture on the back of domestic victories, with Real beating Real Sociedad 3-1 in La Liga on Saturday and PSG earning a 2-0 win over Lille in Ligue 1 on Friday.

                       

Date: Tuesday, November 26 

Time: 8 p.m. GMT, 3 p.m. ET

TV Info: BT Sport ESPN (UK)

Live Stream: BT Sport App, B/R Live

Match Odds (courtesy of Caesars): Real Madrid +135, Draw +265, PSG +185 

                  

PSG's front line when they faced Real back in September was Angel Di Maria, Mauro Icardi and Pablo Sarabia.

Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Neymar were all unavailable for the fixture, but PSG still managed to rout Zinedine Zidane's side, with Di Maria particularly impressing:

Angel Di Maria leads L’Equipe’s PSG player ratings with 9, while Idrissa Gueye & Juan Bernat both picked up 8s & Marquinhos, Marco Verratti & Thiago Silva got 7s in the 3-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid. Eden Hazard hit with a 2. #UCL pic.twitter.com/KuTnFfBsqv

— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) September 18, 2019

All five of the French champions' key attackers played some part in Friday's victory over Lille, though:

For the first time this season, all of Thomas Tuchel's five forwards are available for PSG!

✅ Edinson Cavani
✅ Angel Di Maria
✅ Mauro Icardi
✅ Kylian Mbappe
✅ Neymar

Poor Lille 😰 pic.twitter.com/Hmsvrgo4Ae

— GOAL (@goal) November 22, 2019

And manager Thomas Tuchel has an enviable problem on his hands as to who to start against Los Blancos.

At No. 9, Icardi is almost undroppable after scoring 10 goals in his last nine appearances.

Real's Karim Benzema is in similarly fine form. The Frenchman has scored six goals in his last five appearances for Los Blancos and became the first La Liga player to reach double figures for the campaign when he scored against La Real on Saturday:

With another goal, @Benzema remains on top of the scoring charts. 🔥🔝#RealMadridRealSociedad pic.twitter.com/ycOwWZXqhW

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) November 23, 2019

Tuchel can afford to be more experimental with his selection than Zidane as PSG have already booked their spot in the knockout rounds and are five points ahead of Real at the top of Group A with just two matches remaining.

Given the high profile of the fixture and the fact that Real and PSG will both have legitimate ambitions of winning the Champions League this season, the German manager is unlikely to take the opportunity to rest many of his key players.

Tuesday will be the sixth occasion in the last five seasons that Real and PSG have met in Europe's elite tournament.

The Spanish giants have the edge in head-to-head terms having won three of the previous five fixtures.

PSG will be eager to level the playing field further with a second victory against Real on Tuesday, which could also threaten Madrid's future in this season's Champions League depending on the result of Club Brugge's meeting with Galatasaray earlier in the day. 

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has said he hopes Gareth Bale is not booed again at the Santiago Bernabeu after the Welshman got a hostile reception there on Saturday.

Bale caused controversy during the recent international break when he and his team-mates celebrated Wales' qualification for UEFA Euro 2020 by posing with a flag that read "Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order":

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales
⛳️ Golf
🇪🇸 Madrid

In that order...

Gareth Bale and his Welsh team-mates celebrated their #Euro2020 qualification with a cheeky flag last night

More: https://t.co/ztt64Cfb0f pic.twitter.com/O0BDs9MN23

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 20, 2019

The move was not well received in Spain, and Bale was roundly booed and whistled by Real's fans when he replaced Rodrygo in the 67th minute of Saturday's 3-1 home win against Real Sociedad:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏌‍♂⚪

🙈 Gareth Bale is welcomed into the game by whistles from all around the Bernabeu! pic.twitter.com/PSk82cBDQx

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) November 23, 2019

Zidane called on the Bernabeu faithful to instead applaud all Real's players in the future, per Alex Smith of the Mirror:

"I hope this doesn't carry on for the rest of the season. We want the fans to be with us from the beginning to the end, but we cannot control that. The public has the right to do what they want, but I ask that they applaud everyone. I'm happy with the game and the victory and Bale came into the game well. What you have to do is keep working on the pitch."

Seven minutes after he came on, Bale played a key role in Real's third goal, crossing from the right to Karim Benzema in the penalty area, who headed inside for Luka Modric to score.

The 30-year-old has never enjoyed the best relationship with Real's fans even though his record at the club since joining from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 is largely superb.

Zidane himself said back in the summer he hoped Bale would leave Madrid:

Gareth Bale will be leaving Real Madrid having won it all 🏆 pic.twitter.com/F1989GrtCX

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 21, 2019

But then his mooted move to Chinese club Jiangsu Suning collapsed.

Bale's reception at the Bernabeu on Saturday does little to contradict the overwhelming feeling his days may be numbered at Real.

Jose Mourinho's recent appointment as Tottenham manager has prompted rumours Spurs could look to re-sign the winger.

Real Madrid are level on points with leaders Barcelona after beating Real Sociedad 3-1 in La Liga on Saturday.

Karim Benzema, Federico Valverde and Luka Modric scored for Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu, after Willian Jose had given the visitors a second-minute lead. Modric was the star of the show, having assisted Benzema and Valverde's goals before finding the net himself.

Sociedad don't lack for quality in the final third this season, and it showed when Jose swept in a cute finish from inside the box with barely two minutes on the clock.

Jose continued to cause problems with his pace and the timing of his runs. He went close again on 13 minutes after being sent clear by on-loan Real playmaker Martin Odegaard.

The home side didn't start to flex its own attacking muscle until Modric began gaining control of possession. Once he did, the 34-year-old pass-master was effortlessly releasing runners between the lines, creating chances for left-back Ferland Mendy and Benzema in quick succession.

Modric's combination with Benzema eventually got Real back on terms, when a cross from the former was met by the head of the latter eight minute before the break. A 10th league goal of what is proving to be a prolific campaign means Benzema is keeping pace with some of the most lethal marksmen on the continent:

3 - Only Lionel Messi (29) and Robert Lewandowski (28) have scored more goals than @realmadriden's Karim Benzema in the top five European leagues in 2019 (25, level with Kylian Mbappé). Critical. pic.twitter.com/yBvIX0FRmU

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 23, 2019

Benzema and Co. couldn't force their way in front before the break but were primed to seize the initiative after the restart. Once again Modric made the difference when he played in Valverde two minutes into the second half.

Surprisingly, given how effective he's been in a Real shirt, ex-Ballon d'Or winner Modrichadn't been this effective creatively in previous years:

2 – This is the first time that Luka Modrić has assisted two goals in a single game for @realmadriden in all competitions. Magic. pic.twitter.com/iBKDqhPe9o

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 23, 2019

Needing more attacking impetus prompted Zinedine Zidane to bring Gareth Bale off the bench. The Welshman replaced Rodrygo Goes in the 67th minute, but fittingly it was Modric who again proved decisive when he netted Real's third after he met Benzema's smart header down.

Modric's goal proved to be enough for Zidane's men, who withstood a late Sociedad offensive with Odegaard, Jose and Mikel Merino pulling the strings ultimately to no avail.

   

What's Next?

Real host Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, while Sociedad will return to domestic action by hosting Eibar on Saturday, November 30.

Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard said he enjoys training under Zinedine Zidane more than he did under Maurizio Sarri or Antonio Conte at Chelsea.

The Belgian joined Real in the summer from the Blues, where he spent his final three seasons working with Conte and then Sarri.

He told L'Equipe (h/t Goal's James Westwood) that under Zidane, "the training is always with the ball." The Belgian continued: "When you have experimented with Italians, as I have done with Conte or Sarri, you have much less fun. Everything is more framed."

Hazard's former Chelsea team-mate Mikel John Obi recently revealed he does not particularly enjoy working hard in training:

Eden Hazard is a natural ✨ pic.twitter.com/vtbotHUwbo

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 18, 2019

On the differences between Sarri and Zidane, the 28-year-old added:

"It's hard to compare. I was attracted to Zidane at Madrid and felt very identified. He fascinates me and has even some power over me. 

"During Euro 2016 he told me: 'It would be good if you came.' And when Zidane calls you it's hard to say no."

Even before he moved to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer, Hazard made no secret of his admiration for the former France international.

He hasn't enjoyed the best of starts to life in the Spanish capital under Zidane, though, as he has scored just one goal in 11 games for his new side.

The Belgium international likely wasn't helped by a hamstring injury that disrupted his pre-season and caused him to miss the first three games of the campaign.

His form picked up before the international break, though, and he put in an electric performance in Real's 4-0 win over Eibar last time out.

SB Nation's Lucas Navarrete and Alex Goldberg of the Calcioland Podcast were in awe of him as he bamboozled defenders and dovetailed well with Karim Benzema:

Hazard masterclass.

— Lucas Navarrete (@LucasNavarreteM) November 9, 2019

Eden Hazard has been breathtaking so far this game.

— Goals Side (@goalsside) November 9, 2019

Hazard scored 55 goals and contributed 37 assists in all competitions in three seasons under Conte and Sarri. 

Zidane is yet to coax such productivity out of him, but it's still early in his Madrid career.

Hazard alone isn't capable of replicating Cristiano Ronaldo's contributions at the Bernabeu—the Portuguese averaged exactly 50 goals per season during his nine-year stint as the club's goalscoring talisman—but the new No. 7 can still have an enormous impact when he hits top form.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has defended Gareth Bale after he celebrated Wales' qualification to UEFA Euro 2020 with a fan-made flag that suggested he preferred his national side and golf to his club.

Bale helped Wales pick up back-to-back 2-0 wins over Azerbaijan and Hungary during the international break, and he celebrated along with his team-mates with the flag:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales
⛳️ Golf
🇪🇸 Madrid

In that order...

Gareth Bale and his Welsh team-mates celebrated their #Euro2020 qualification with a cheeky flag last night

More: https://t.co/ztt64Cfb0f pic.twitter.com/O0BDs9MN23

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 20, 2019

Per Goal's Tom Maston, Zidane said "a lot of noise" had been made in reaction to the celebrations, but he wanted the focus to be on football. He added:

"I only look at sports performance, not what is said outside. I am not interested in the outside.

"I'll always say the same. When you look at what he has given this club, and its fans, the ones who come to the stadium know that he is one of our own, and the fans must be on his side.

"I think he can be a decisive player. I only think about that. If something does not happen to him, he is a very important player. When something happens to him, of course, like when he is injured, it changes. I am going to count on Bale."

Bale recently said he had "more excitement" playing with his national side than his club.

Per Tom Allnutt of Agence France-Presse, Zidane was also asked about those comments:

Bale happier with Wales? Zidane: "I don't think so, maybe it's better with the language. But he seemed happy when he scored in the Champions League final. It's only the language, he said it. Inside the dressing room here, he's good."

— Tom Allnutt (@TomAllnutt_) November 22, 2019

Madrid-based newspapers Marca and AS have reacted angrily to Bale's celebrations:

📰 @Marca: Disrespectful. Wrong. Ungrateful. In that order.
📰 @English_AS: Bale puts himself in a hole.

Madrid are not taking the flag pictures well. pic.twitter.com/tpqvx3ocrY

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 21, 2019

Football writer Andrew Gaffney felt Bale was entitled to celebrate the way he did given the treatment he has endured at times in the Spanish capital:

It's nice to know that all of those Real Madrid 'panellists' and fans who constantly found ridiculous, minor things to hate about Bale also possess no sense of humour whatsoever when he decides to take a dig back.

— Andrew Gaffney (@GaffneyVLC) November 20, 2019

The 30-year-old moved to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2013, and he has helped the club win 13 honours during his time there, including four UEFA Champions League titles, La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

He scored three goals in two of those Champions League finals, having netted 104 in 238 games for Los Blancos overall. Bale has also laid on 67 assists.

His exploits for Wales have not come at an ideal time, as he has not played for Real since October 5 because of a calf injury.

It is perhaps a surprise Zidane has come to his defence. The pair appeared to have little relationship with one another, and in the summer—shortly before Real pulled out of a proposed transfer sending him to China—Zidane said his imminent departure would be best for all parties.

It will not be a surprise, though, if Bale receives a frosty reception from Real Madrid fans in Saturday's home clash with Real Sociedad despite Zidane's defence.  

Karim Benzema is reportedly in talks about a new contract at Real Madrid.

His current deal at the Santiago Bernabeu expires in 2021, and Real are eager to extend his terms to 2023, according to Marca's Pablo Polo.

Los Blancos are also planning to raise his salary to bring it in line with the likes of Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos, but an agreement has not yet been reached between the two parties, Polo added.

Benzema, 31, has been Real's star man this term, netting nine goals in 11 La Liga appearances, more than any other player in the division.

He also joined an elite group when he netted his 50th UEFA Champions League goal for Real against Galatasaray on November 6:

Karim Benzema becomes the fourth player in #UCL history to score 50 goals in the competition for a single club:

🇦🇷 Lionel Messi (113)
🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo (105)
🇪🇸 Raul (66)
🇫🇷 Karim Benzema (50)

Three out of four for Real Madrid. pic.twitter.com/KoXnvsekBY

— Squawka (@Squawka) November 6, 2019

The Frenchman's consistency in front of goal is remarkable, and it has been particularly important so far in 2019-20 given £89 million summer signing Eden Hazard has failed to find his top form.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo left for Juventus in July 2018, Benzema has stepped out of the Portuguese's shadow in impressive fashion:

Since Ronaldo left for Juventus, Benzema has been holding it down in Madrid 💪 pic.twitter.com/C2tK0IBAPQ

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) November 10, 2019

It is little surprise, then, that Real are eager to ensure he remains happy at the Bernabeu and commits to staying at the club past the end of next season.

Benzema joined Real from Lyon over a decade ago, and it is testament to his enduring quality that he remains one of the club's most important players and is set to be rewarded as such. 

He will look to continue his impressive recent run of five goals in his last four appearances in all competitions when Real face Real Sociedad at home in La Liga on Saturday.

Depending on Barcelona's result earlier in the day at Leganes, it is possible Real could finish the weekend top of La Liga if they get a good result against La Real.   

Gareth Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, said the winger is unconcerned over how Real Madrid fans might react to the player's celebrations with Wales during the international break.

Bale helped his national side secure qualification to UEFA Euro 2020 as Wales beat both Azerbaijan and Hungary 2-0, and he joined the squad in celebrating with a fan's flag after the latter game:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales
⛳️ Golf
🇪🇸 Madrid

In that order...

Gareth Bale and his Welsh team-mates celebrated their #Euro2020 qualification with a cheeky flag last night

More: https://t.co/ztt64Cfb0f pic.twitter.com/O0BDs9MN23

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 20, 2019

Per ESPN FC's Alex Kirkland, sources at the club have described it as "a joke in very bad taste," while some of his team-mates have said it could damage his relationship with supporters even though they themselves found it amusing.

However, Barnett told ESPN FC the 30-year-old has "no worries" about how supporters will respond and that the celebrations were "meant for the media" rather than a dig aimed at Real or the fans.

The Spanish press have not taken kindly to Bale's actions:

📰 @Marca: Disrespectful. Wrong. Ungrateful. In that order.
📰 @English_AS: Bale puts himself in a hole.

Madrid are not taking the flag pictures well. pic.twitter.com/tpqvx3ocrY

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 21, 2019

The celebration came after Bale said he preferred playing for his country to playing for his club:

Gareth Bale says he enjoys international duty more than time with Real Madrid 👀 pic.twitter.com/hss85dJj9t

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 15, 2019

Bale has not featured for Los Blancos since prior to the October international break. He suffered a calf injury in Wales' 1-1 draw with Croatia on October 13, which kept him out of Real's six matches between the two breaks.

Bale returned to fitness in time to play for Wales, and he featured for an hour against Azerbaijan and for 88 minutes against Hungary. He's now back in the Spanish capital ahead of Saturday's home clash with Real Sociedad.

Bale going back to what he loves after international duty ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/mFvfbZ3YZT

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 21, 2019

If manager Zinedine Zidane selects the winger to play at the Santiago Bernabeu, he might not be in for the best reception, as SB Nation's Lucas Navarrete suggested:

It won't be easy for Gareth Bale to play his next game in front of the fans at the Bernabeu, I'm telling you.

— Lucas Navarrete (@LucasNavarreteM) November 20, 2019

Bale has contributed 104 goals and 67 assists in 238 games for the club, helping Real to win the UEFA Champions League four times and La Liga, among other honours. However, his relationship with supporters has been strained for some time—if he is jeered, it will be far from the first time.

The Welshman almost left the club last summer for the Chinese Super League, and it would come as little surprise if his future still lies away from Real Madrid.

Real Madrid entertain Real Sociedad on Saturday in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Los Blancos remain level with Barcelona on 25 points at the top of the table, with the champions ahead on goal difference.

Sociedad have been consistent performers in La Liga this season and are in fifth place, only two points behind Barca and Madrid.

              

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23

Time: 9 p.m. local, 8 p.m. GMT, 3 p.m ET

TV: Premier Sports 2 (UK), beIN Sports (USA)

Stream: Premier Player, LaLigaTV, BeIN Connect

Odds: Madrid 7-20, Sociedad 13-2, draw 23-5 (via Caesars)

               

Preview

After several hiccups at the start of the campaign, Real Madrid have steadily begun to find a groove.

An inability to stamp their authority on games and win three points appeared to be a problem, but Zinedine Zidane's men have discovered improved chemistry.

They are unbeaten in their last five in all competitions and have scored 16 goals over that period. It is the type of goal return Los Blancos fans expect from their team.

Eden Hazard is warming to the task of becoming the new club's talisman, and the Belgium international has said he's physically ready to take the next step.

According to Liam Grace of Sky Sports, the 28-year-old is happy with his conditioning after former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger commented the forward had arrived in La Liga "too heavy."

"For the last month I've been in good condition with no injuries," Hazard said. "I'm in good shape. When I'm on the pitch I will always try to do my best, with Real Madrid or Belgium. I just want to keep this momentum."

Injury delayed Hazard's debut at the start of the season, but the attacking midfielder has a goal and assist in seven La Liga games. Madrid President Florentino Perez will be expecting greater returns from his major summer signing.

Sociedad are in the mix for the UEFA Champions League spots this term, and a place in European competition for next season is a realistic ambition.

The team finished ninth last season, but La Real have displayed the merits of an improving side after years in the doldrums.

Imanol Alguacil has been in charge since 2018 after previously playing for the Basque club for eight seasons; he signed as a youth product in 1988 and joined the coaching staff in 2011.

The former defender knows the the San Sebastian club inside-out, and an unlikely title challenge could materialise if the usual La Liga front-runners lose consistency and form.

Sociedad are a team to watch this term, and Alguacil's reputation continues to flourish in the Spanish top flight.

Real Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez is set to miss some time after he fractured a toe on his left foot. 

Los Blancos published a statement on Thursday confirming Vazquez had suffered the injury during the international break, though there was no specific mention of how it happened or a return date.

The statement read: "Following the tests carried out today on our player Lucas Vazquez by the Real Madrid medical department, he has been diagnosed with a fracture to the distal phalanx in his left hallux. His recovery will continue to be assessed."

The Spanish Football Podcast cited a report from Marca, which suggested Vazquez injured himself training in the gym:

Lucas Vazquéz broke his toe *when a weight fell on his foot in the gym* say Marca https://t.co/CcEnDYTmng

— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) November 21, 2019

The 28-year-old has scored 22 goals and recorded 45 assists in 192 appearances for Real, but he's endured a stunted start to the current campaign.

The Spain international was sidelined briefly with a calf complaint in October, while manager Zinedine Zidane has handed the player successive La Liga starts just once this season.

Vazquez recorded his first assist of the season when he started in a 4-0 thrashing of Eibar before the international break, having failed to feature in Real's previous five league fixtures:

Lucas Vazquez starts and Real Madrid play some of their best football this season... Coincidence?! https://t.co/hpeJugCczU

— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) November 9, 2019

His most recent injury intensifies the pressure on €100 million summer signing Eden Hazard to perform out wide, while Zidane will be glad he's handed 18-year-old Rodrygo Goes more first-team responsibilities.

Real blogger Lucas Navarrete recently said Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr. and Brahim Diaz each sit above Gareth Bale in the pecking order after the Wales star joined in the jokes regarding his status in Madrid:

Rodrygo, Vinicius, Brahim, Vazquez, Bale. In that order.

Would Bale like that banner?

— Lucas Navarrete (@LucasNavarreteM) November 20, 2019

Vazquez will miss Saturday's league fixture at home to Real Sociedad, as well as Tuesday's UEFA Champions League game at home to Group A rivals Paris Saint-Germain.

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has labelled Gareth Bale "childish" for celebrating with a fan's flag that read "Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order" after he helped Wales qualify for UEFA Euro 2020 on Tuesday.

Bale set up one of Aaron Ramsey's two goals in Wales' 2-0 win over Hungary in Cardiff, which secured Ryan Giggs' side second place behind Croatia in Group E.

In the post-match celebrations, Bale and his team-mates celebrated with a Wales flag that had the words to a popular Bale chant on it:

Gareth Bale dancing with this banner hasn't gone down well in Spain 😬😬#WalesGolfMadridInThatOrder pic.twitter.com/OcyNGZAxzv

— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) November 20, 2019

The inference is that not only does Bale care more about playing for his country than for Real, but he also prefers to play golf.

His regular rounds of golf have been used to ridicule Bale in the past, and they have also been used as evidence of his failure to integrate at Real since his 2013 move to the club from Tottenham Hotspur.

Calderon believes Bale's celebrations with Wales could be the final straw in the long-running saga over his future at Madrid, per Roshane Thomas of The Athletic:

"It's going to be difficult for Bale now because it was very childish of him to pose behind that banner. 

"Fans are very angry because of course they didn't like that, bearing in mind he has hardly played for the team this season then he goes off on international duty with Wales and plays in two matches. It's a difficult situation for [manager Zinedine] Zidane and he won't be happy with Bale for posing with that banner.

"Bale hasn't done himself any favours with this. He's adding fuel to the fire, and it's going to be difficult for Zidane to include him in the starting lineup and also the bench.

"Bale has been at Madrid for many years now and doesn't appear to have integrated with his team-mates. He doesn't speak any Spanish, so that's a problem in terms of communicating with the fans and the press. He's also very fragile and has bad luck with injuries."

Bale, 30, has not played for Real since October 5 because of a calf problem suffered during the previous international break.

His return to fitness for Wales' crucial fixtures against Azerbaijan and Hungary caused some consternation in Madrid:

Zidane irritated by questions about Bale and James and the idea they will be fit to play for their countries but not Real Madrid. He says they're not injured but not match fit either. Seems fairly inevitable they will be deemed match fit next week for Wales and Colombia...

— Tom Allnutt (@TomAllnutt_) November 8, 2019

And, as Calderon said, his celebrations are likely to be even worse received at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Bale and Zidane have never had a great relationship, and in the summer, the Frenchman said he was hoping the winger would leave before his proposed move to China collapsed:

Zinedine Zidane confirms Real Madrid are looking to sell Gareth Bale. pic.twitter.com/ZnTR3Q3RTm

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 21, 2019

After Mauricio Pochettino's recent dismissal at Spurs and Jose Mourinho's appointment, rumours have circulated that the Portuguese manager could try to get Bale back to the north London club:

José Mourinho’s Tottenham transfer priorities, according to reports…👇

Bale. Bale. Bale. In that order.#THFC pic.twitter.com/a437J1NmEe

— Football Whispers (@FB_WHISPERS) November 21, 2019

Calderon believes it would be a good move for the Welshman:

"Bale has at least three or four more years at the top level. Could he join Jose Mourinho at Tottenham? Why not? It depends on what Mourinho thinks of him, but I'm sure the fans at Tottenham have very good memories of him there. For Bale to go back to where he really belongs would be ideal for everyone because going to China would be a pity."